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60 Seconds with... Antoinette Brooks-Daw

In a nutshell describe your job and how you got into it

I am currently in my fifth year here at Northern Ballet. Each day brings with it new challenges, from improving technique and gaining strength in our daily morning training to learning new repertoire and developing different characters.

I started ballet in Hong Kong at the age of three with my mum. At the age of 11 I successfully auditioned for the Royal Ballet School where I completed nine years training before starting my first job here with Northern Ballet.

Where can you be found when you’re not at Northern Ballet?

Most recently, I have been to quite a few classical concerts at the Leeds Town Hall. I absolutely love them! It’s a real privilege to be able to sit back and listen to such wonderful live music.

Which is your favourite Northern Ballet production and why?

I definitely have more than one favourite so that’s a hard question! I’ve always loved Wuthering Heights. It was actually the first Northern Ballet production I saw when I was still in my early years of training and it most definitely left me inspired.

If you weren't a Dancer what would you be?

I think I would have liked to have been a musician. I studied music a lot when I was younger playing the piano, violin and harp. I think music has really abetted my development as a dancer.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Cameron Diaz. I love her personality and charisma. If only I had her legs!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

‘Don’t leave until tomorrow what you can do today’. I still find this hard to put into practice but it’s advice I truly believe in.

What song will always get you dancing?

I’m a huge fan of the Bombay Bicycle Club so anything by them will easily get me up on my feet and skipping around!

What scares you?

Pigeons! Especially the ones feeling brave enough to fly straight at you! Also, swimming in the sea and not knowing what could be lurking right beneath you.

What would be your Mastermind specialist subject?

It would have to be my guilty pleasure Grey’s Anatomy, an American TV series. I remember being completely hooked after just one episode!

What do you want to do before you die?

Travel the world. We are so lucky in this day and age to have access to so much of our planet. I want to see and experience as much of it as possible!

It’s your dream dinner party – which six people (dead or alive) would you invite?